On a Florida airboat tour, you will see a ton of Florida wildlife, but have you ever wondered what exactly hides in the water and weeds in Florida’s fresh water? Unless you’ve had a chance to explore the Florida waters on a snorkeling expedition, it’s unlikely that you’ve been able to see the vast array of underwater species and the secret world of fish, alligators and turtles. A University of Florida graduate student, who has been working on a camera to peer through the dark waters, discovered a variety of bass, alligators, turtles, and gar in their private moments.
A Closer Look at the Florida Freshwater
The camera was originally designed to assess fish populations in the freshwaters of Florida but has managed to capture ‘surreal grottos of hydrilla in a big lake not far from Orlando’, according to a recent story in the Orlando Sentinel. The student stated that very few people have ever even seen what lives in hydrilla, and it was interesting to discover such a diversity of animals in the waters. The structure of hydrilla is much like a dense forest for fish and other underwater species, making it an attractive environment for the mating game.
Aquatic Plants in Florida’s Freshwater
According to FloridaLakefront.com, Florida’s native freshwater aquatic plants include a variety of native grasses and pondweed that are submerged in both the shallower and deeper areas. Tape Grass, Sago Pondweed, Florida Bladderwort, and Coontail are a few of the most common plants found in the waters. Free-floating and floating-leaved plants such as water meal, the smallest flowering plant on earth, is found in Florida’s rivers, ponds, lakes, and sloughs. You might also discover a variety of grasses, sedges, and rushs, including Maidencane, that can grow up to six feet long and serves as protection for wildlife nests and is also a source of food. Soft rush is found in several clumps around Florida’s fresh and saltwater wetlands.
To learn more about Florida’s precious ecosystem, call us today to reserve your airboat ride at 866-532-7167 or stop by and check out our Wildlife Park. We promise that Wild Florida Airboats will renew your appreciation for nature and Florida itself!
